X-energy and Toyo Tanso Sign $40 Million Graphite Supply Agreement for Xe-100 Small Modular Reactor Deployment
X-energy Reactor Company, LLC (“X-energy”) has announced the signing of a Definitive Supply Agreement with Toyo Tanso USA, Inc., a subsidiary of Toyo Tanso Co., Ltd., to supply fine-grain graphite components for the first deployment of X-energy’s Xe-100 small modular reactor (SMR). Valued at approximately $40 million, the agreement marks a major step toward the development of the Long Mott Generating Station, a four-unit advanced nuclear power plant planned for the Texas Gulf Coast. The project is being developed in partnership with Dow, Inc. and supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP).
Strategic Supply Agreement for Graphite Components
Under the new agreement, Toyo Tanso will manufacture and deliver graphite core structural components made from its proprietary IG-110 fine-grain isotropic graphite. These components will be integral to the four Xe-100 reactors planned for Dow’s UCC Seadrift Operations site in Texas, one of the first advanced nuclear energy projects designed to decarbonize industrial manufacturing operations.
The Xe-100 design relies on graphite as both a neutron moderator and structural material, allowing the reactor to achieve high-temperature operations with enhanced safety and efficiency. Toyo Tanso’s IG-110 graphite is known for its superior thermal resistance, dimensional stability, and machining precision, all of which are crucial for the demanding conditions of high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs).
Beyond this initial project, X-energy and Toyo Tanso are also in discussions to expand their collaboration to include graphite component supply for the Cascade Advanced Energy Facility in Washington state. This project, developed in partnership with Energy Northwest, is set to be X-energy’s second major deployment and one of the first advanced nuclear projects aimed at powering hyperscale data centers through the company’s partnership with Amazon. Together, these initiatives are expected to support more than 5 gigawatts (GW) of new nuclear capacity by 2039.
Strengthening the SMR Supply Chain
The agreement represents not only a key commercial milestone for X-energy but also a significant contribution to building a resilient SMR supply chain in the United States and allied markets. By securing long-term partnerships with trusted material suppliers like Toyo Tanso, X-energy is reinforcing the foundations for the next generation of nuclear manufacturing and deployment.
In addition to its collaboration with Dow, X-energy is pursuing projects with Amazon and Centrica, representing a combined potential of more than 11 GW of advanced nuclear capacity across the United States and United Kingdom. This scale is equivalent to approximately 144 Xe-100 SMR units, underscoring the company’s ambition to make nuclear energy a mainstream, scalable, and decarbonizing solution for industries and utilities worldwide.
“World-class technology demands a world-class team, and Toyo Tanso’s proven track record is a powerful addition to that team,” said J. Clay Sell, CEO of X-energy. “This is an important step forward on our path to the commercial market, securing a critical supply chain component for our first deployment with one of the world’s leading nuclear suppliers.”
The Role of Graphite in Advanced Reactor Technology
Graphite plays a critical role in the Xe-100 reactor’s performance and safety profile. In high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) designs like the Xe-100, graphite serves as the neutron moderator, slowing down neutrons to sustain efficient nuclear fission reactions. It also acts as a key structural material that ensures thermal stability and mechanical integrity under high temperatures and radiation exposure.
Toyo Tanso’s IG-110 isotropic graphite has been tested and validated through decades of experience in advanced nuclear systems. The material is characterized by high purity, uniform structure, and superior resistance to oxidation, making it ideal for demanding nuclear applications. These properties allow the Xe-100 to operate at temperatures up to 750°C, enabling greater thermal efficiency, hydrogen production capabilities, and industrial process heat applications.
By selecting Toyo Tanso as its graphite supplier, X-energy ensures that its reactors will benefit from globally recognized material quality, supporting both operational reliability and regulatory confidence.
Expanding Advanced Nuclear Deployment
The Long Mott Generating Station, planned for Dow’s Seadrift Operations in Texas, will serve as the first commercial deployment of the Xe-100 SMR. The project is backed by the DOE’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP), which aims to accelerate the commercialization of next-generation nuclear technologies capable of meeting future energy and decarbonization goals.
Following this initial project, X-energy’s development roadmap includes several key initiatives:
- Cascade Advanced Energy Facility (Washington State): A collaboration with Energy Northwest and Amazon to supply carbon-free energy to data centers, representing the first commercial deployment of advanced nuclear for cloud operations.
- Centrica Joint Development Agreement (United Kingdom): A 6 GW partnership aimed at deploying the UK’s first advanced reactor fleet, supporting national decarbonization and energy security goals.
- Fuel Fabrication Facility (Tennessee): Construction of the first-of-its-kind U.S. facility for Tristructural Isotropic (TRISO) fuel manufacturing in Oak Ridge, ensuring a secure domestic supply of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) fuel for future Xe-100 deployments.
Together, these initiatives form a comprehensive ecosystem for advanced nuclear power—integrating reactor design, fuel production, and material supply into a vertically aligned and sustainable energy platform.
A Scalable, Safe, and Sustainable Energy Future
X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor is designed to deliver 80 megawatts of electric power (MWe) or 200 megawatts of thermal energy (MWth) per unit, with modular scalability up to several gigawatts per site. The system’s inherent safety features, including passive heat removal and fail-safe design, eliminate the need for large-scale water cooling and containment structures traditionally required in conventional nuclear plants.
This makes the Xe-100 ideal for a wide range of applications—industrial decarbonization, grid reliability, hydrogen production, and data center power supply—especially in regions seeking to replace fossil fuels while maintaining energy resilience.
Through strategic partnerships such as the one with Toyo Tanso, X-energy continues to strengthen its position as a pioneer in the commercial deployment of advanced nuclear technology. The $40 million graphite supply agreement not only ensures the technical readiness of the first Xe-100 deployment but also lays the groundwork for future expansion of the SMR industry across global markets.
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